Pneumatic tool.



PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

W. WHEELER. PNEUMATIUTOOL. APPLICATION EIL ED DBO.23.1905. RENEWED OUT':3,1906v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

LEM m WITNESSES. @W Ma No. 835,589. PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

W. WHEELER. PNEUMATIC TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 2311905. RENEWED 00w. a, 1906.

2 sums-552m 2.

WITNESSES KO W INVENTOR UNITED STA-TES- PATENT OFFICE.

WELLS WHEELER; OF EAST PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or I ONE-HALF TO FRANK W. OHATTIN. or BUTTE, PENNSYLVANIA:-

' To all whom it may c'oncerm Be it known-that I, WELLs WHEELER, a resident of East .Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful'lmprovement in Pneumatic Tools; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descr ippfiison thereof. 7

. invention relates to percussion implements, such as rock-drills and the like. Its object is to provide an im lement of this character which is actuate pneumatically and in which the implement itself and the source of power are self-containedthat is, the implement, the compressor, and the comressor-motor all" being mounted on the same ase. 1 The specific objects of the invention are to provide an implement of the character named in which the tool is automatically lifted or withdrawn after actuation by means of compressed air and to so regulate the com ressor as to secure a preliminary compressm of the airand to so control the air that it willnot act u' on the tool-piston at each reciprocation of t e compressor-piston, but on the contrary will be preliminarily compressed, so that when it does act upon the tool-actuating piston it will have suflicient tension to' give an effective blow.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects the invention consists of the arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. a

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4- 4:, Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the tool-rotating means. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views of the check and inlet valves.

The invention comprise's'a suitable toolactuating cylinder 1, in which is the tool-actuating piston 2', which at its outer end is provided with a socket or chuck 3 for receiving the drill or other'tool, a compressor-cylinder 4, containing a compressing-piston 5, a motor 6, which may be of any suitable t e, but which'is shown as a standard two-cyc e gasolene-engine, andits movable element- -viz.,

Specification of Letters Patent. Applicatioii filed Dec'enibei 23; 1905'. Renewed October 3, 190a aria r4. 337.277.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

and 9 to the compressor-piston 5 for reciprocating the latter. All of these elements are mounted upon a common base or support, such as -the casting 10, and, in fact, in the specific form illustrated cylinder, the compressor-cylinder, the motorcylinder, and the base member 10 are formed as a single integral castingybut obviously this canbe varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. The base member 10 is provided with suitable means, such as the wings 11, for mounting on a tripod or other suitable support, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Inasmuch asthe motor may be of any suitable type,'ithas notbeen deemednecessary to illustrate it in detail. i v The compressor-cylinder 4 and tool-actuating cylinder 1 are connected by means of a port 12, which is controlled by-a suitable valve 13, by means of which said port may be closed-as, for instance, when starting the implement in order to permit the gasolenemotor to attain the desired speed. When the cylinder 4 with a passage 14, having an outlet to the atmosphere. 7 This outlet is controlled by a suitable cut-off valve or cock 16, so that when the motor isrunning and it is desired to stop the tool-actuatingp1Ston, as

the like, the outlet 15 may be t rottled in orvalve, such as the check-valve 21, which is backed by means of a spring 22., The tension of said spring may be adjusted by means of a suitable screw 23. A port 24 leads from the chamber 18 to the outer face of the valve 20 so that the valve will be held to its seat not only by the spring 22,but by the airmay be necessary when chan 'ng drills andder to oppose resistance to the reciprocationof the piston 5 in order to prevent the engine .PNEUMATIC "root. c

the piston 7=, connected by suitable rods the tool-actuating the port 12 is closed, the valve 13 connects cylinder-chamber 1 by means of a port 20,- f which is controlled by a suitable reducing .is.ac complished by'providing a by-pass 27,

which is connectedto the outlet end of the cylinder .4. thron ha port 28 and to the inlet end of. the cylin er by a port 29. A port 30 also connectsthisby-pass with the chamber of the cylinder 4 in front of the piston 5when the latter is inits rearmost position. The

inlet-.valve is shown at 31,.this beingmountedinaisuitable pin 32 and beingarranged ,to open inwardl Tt is normally held to its by means 0 a-spring' 33, arranged at one end tobear against a head 34 on the outer end ofithe valvesstem-and against an adj usthhlaplrig. 35.. This .valve opens by the sucti0n"pro.duced by thetravel of the piston 5, thnsdrawing-air into the cylinder in a wellundess nq manner.

The by-pass 27 is controlled by suitable valve mechanism arranged to keep said-bypass open duringa. predetermined number of reciprocations o .the piston 5 in order to secure.the preliminary compressing of the air and .to then close said by-pass so that the air ingfront of the piston orr the next forward reeiprocationthereof will beforced into the cylinder 1 to actuate the iston 2. This valvemechanism may be 0 various forms. It iii-shown as a rotatin plug-valve 38, havingasitabiegroove 39 or establishing communieation betweenthe port 28 and bypass 27 when said .valve is in a certain position. This lug-valve Will be rotated from any suitab movingpart of the mechanism. As

. shown inthe drawings itisprovided with a gear 40, which meshes with a similar gear 41 on a shaft 42. The latter extends through suitablebearings in. the casting 6 and preferably \willbe ;provided .witha fly wheel or wheels 43 for steadying the movement thereof. The shaft .42 is rotated by means 'of'connecting-rods-44, connected at one end to wrist-pins 45 .onthe fly-wheels43andat their opposite .ends being connected -to a crossshead 46, secured to the-rods 8 and 9. Forzbonvenience of assembling the rods Sand 9are=threaded into the cross-head. .It .will bevobvious :that the reciprocation of the cross-head-46 will impart rotation to shaft 42,.andthis movement by means of the gears 4.0:and 41 impart rotary movement to the .valve.38. i

The gears Mandel .will be. of such relative of one to two, so that the valve 38 will be given a complete rotation during each two reciprocations of the pistons 5. Consequently upon one reciprocation of piston 5 the by-pass 27 will be open and on the next reciprocation. it will be closed. This will secure one blow of the actuating-piston 2 for each two reciprocations of'the piston 5. Obviously, however, by changing .the ratio of the gears .40 vand 41 and correspondingly modifying the length of the groove 39 in. the valve 38 it will be, possible to secure .a blow 01 the piston ,2'foreach third, fourth, fifth, or othernumber of reci r cations of the piston 5.

In rock-drilling, (ac, it is necessary, .or at least desirable, to rotate the tool. This I accomplish as follows: The piston 2 is-made hollow, and projecting into: the-same is a stud or red 48,. provided with a spiral groove or spline 50, this stud being fixedly secured to the main casting by threading the same therein, asshown.- Surrounding. this stud or rod is ,a sleeve 51, provided .with a spline or groove to engage the spiral groove or spline onthe stud, and on its outer face beingprovided with ratchet-teeth 52. This sleeve is connected to the piston 2, so that it must recipro cate therewith, such as threaded in the outer end of thepiston .behind the sleeve 51. has oneend fixed to the.piston.2:and its opposite end provided with a tooth 56,:arrangedto engage the teeth on the sleeve51. When the piston is driven forwardly, the sleeve 51 will be'rotated by means ofthe spiral groove or spline 50, the pawl during the forward movement sliding idly over the ratchefiteeth 52. On the return movement of the piston the sleeve 51 will be rotated in the opposite direction, and as the tooth 56 of the pawl will be in engagement with a ratchettooth on said sleeve, the rotation of said sleeve .will act to rotate the piston 2.,andiwith the latter thetool carried thereby.

The operation of the implement shown is as follows: Ifa gasolene-motor is used, the valve 13-will be turned by hand, so as to cut off the port of the tool-actuating cylinder and open the cylinder-4 to the port 14, thuspreventing the air from offering resistance to the piston 5. be maintained until the-motor has acquired its necessary speed, when the valve 13 will be turned to open communication between the cylinders 4 and 1. When the piston 5 moves forwardly and the valve 38 closes the bypass, the suction generated .will open the inby a bushing 54,

This position of the valve 13 will A springvpawl .or detent IIO et-valve 31, thus drawing air into the rear end of the cylinder. During the backward as long as the by-pass 2-7 is open.

however, as the valve 38 has been rotated to ceases movement of the, piston this air will'be compressed in the by-pass ;27 and will escape the by-pass and the air in front of thepiston; ,5 passes through the by-pass 27 to the rear H end ofthe cylinder and will not be forced into the cylinderl with sufficient tension to move the tool-actuating piston 2. This prelim inary compressing of the air will continue As soon,

- the position to again close said by-pass the piston 5 on its next forward reciprocation will force the compressed air in front of the same through the port 12 into the cylinder 1, thus moving the tool-actuating piston 2 with sufficient force to produce an efficient blow.

On the first admission of air to the cylinder 1 and as soon as the piston 2 has uncovered the port the valve 21 will be raised, permitting air to flow into the chamber 18. The valve 21 will remain open until the pressure in the chamber 18 plus the tension of the spring 22' overbalances the pressure in the cylinder 1.

the cylinder 1 when said valve will be closed. On future admissions of air to the cylinder 1 the valve21 will be raised only in case the pressure in the chamber 18 plus the tension of the spring 22 is less than the pressure in Consequently the valve 21 acts as a'r'egulating check-valve to control the pressure in the chamber 18 and to prevent the air from being drawn out of said chamber when the piston 5 moves backwardly. a

After a forwardmovement of the tool-actuating piston 2 in the manner just described and as soon as the. piston 5 begins to move backwardly it will create a suction in the cylinder 1, or at least will greatly reduce the pressure in said cylinderQ Consequently the air in the chamber 18 will pass through the "port 19 and act on the forward face of the iston 2, thus positively retracting the latter. uring the reciprocations of the piston 2 said piston and the tool-carried thereby will be rotated on each return stroke of the piston by the means hereinafter described.

When it is desired to change tools, it is not necessary to stop the motor 6. The valve 13 will be turned to cut off the communication .between the pressure and tool-actuating cylinders and will connect the compressing. cylinder with the port 14 and through the same to the air. The valve 16 will be par,-

tially closed during this operation in order tothrottle the port 15 and offer sufiicient resistance to the piston '5 to prevent the engine from racing.

The implement described is entirely selfcon dr It has all the advantages of a pneumatically-operated tool and does awaywith the necessity of a separate power-plant and the extensive 'pipings which are necessary withpneumatictoolsas at present constructed andloperated Atthesa'me time the air is given sufficient preliminary compression to give an effective blow to thetool. What I claimris' 1. In a percussion implement the combination of a tool-actuating cylinder, a piston therein, a compressing-cylinder and piston therein, connections between said cylinders, a by-pass connecting the ends of the compressing-cylinder, and valve mechanism-arranged to keep said by-pass open during a predetermined number of reciprocations of the compressing-piston and close the same during the next reciprocation of said piston.

2. In a percussion implement, the combination of a tool-actuating cylinder, a piston therein, a compressing-cylinder, a piston therein, connections between said cylinders, a by-pass connecting the ends of the compressing-cylinders, a movable valve controlling said by-pass, and means for moving said valve so arranged as to hold the by-pass open for a predetermined number of reciprocations of the compresser-piston and to then close the same during a forward stroke of the compressor-piston.

3. In a percussion implement, the combination of a tool-actuating cylinder, a piston therein, "a compressing-cylinder, a piston therein, connections between said cylinders, a by-pass between the ends of said compresing-cylinder, a rotary'valve controlling said by-pass, and gearing actuated from the com .pressor-actuati'ng means andarranged to rotate the valve at such s'peed'as to hold the by-pass open during a predetermined number of reciprocations' of the compressorpiston and to then close the same.

4. In a percussion implement, the combi nation of a tool-actuating cylinder, a piston therein, an air-compressing cylinder, connections'between said cylinders, a motor connected to the compressor, a base common to said cylinders and'motor, and valve mechanism arranged to secure the actuation of the tool-piston only at predetermined reciprocations of the compressor-piston.

5. Ina percussion implement, the combination of, a tool-actuating cylinder havingan inlet-port into its rear end, a piston therein,

a chamber connected by ports to the forward end and to the rear end of'said tool-actuating cylinder, and a spring-actuatedv regulating check-valve seating toward the actuating-- cylinder and controlling the inlet-port to said chamber.

, 6. Ina percussion implement, the'combination of a tool-actuating cylinder having an inlet-port into its rear end, a piston therein,

a chamber havin a ji'ort' connecting tothe assist the spring-in. holding the valve to its forward end of t e tool-acmeting cylinder seat. I and also hevin sublet-port, aeheck-velve In testimony whereof I, the said WELLS seatin 'towa' the actuating-cylinder and WHE E1LER,' have'hereunto set In hand.

contro ling the inlet-port, asp ringarranged WELLS EELERQ to hold the cheek-valve to its seat and con- Witnesses: neetions for admitting pressure from said. ROBERT C. TOTTEN,

chamber to the outer end -of said valve to 'J. R. KELLER. 

